“If that’s the way you remember it.” Robbie went to the adjoining bathroom but left the door open.

“So where are you really going?” Adam asked.

Robbie couldn’t help smiling at his brother’s perception. He went back into the bedroom. “It’s not your business, but I’m going to apologize to Kelly. I put my foot in my mouth and I need to warn her.”

Adam sat up. “What did you do?”

“It wasn’t my fault. I was boxed in and I had to get out any way I could.” Adam was glaring at him. “I told Nella and Forey that Paul asked Kelly to marry him. They hadn’t been told yet, so they weren’t happy. You’d think I had—”

Adam recovered his shock. “You had no right to tell them that!”

“Don’t give me that look. Paul thinks he can put a cage around Kelly by giving her a ring. But he’s going to be gone all summer, and I will be here.”

“The dance,” Adam said. “Paul will be away, so you’re going to ask Kelly to go with you.”

Robbie didn’t answer but his smile said yes. “See you later.” He left the room.

Adam stayed where he was until he heard the front door close.Then he picked up the bedroom phone and called information. The operator gave him the number for Dr. Carl’s clinic. “Would you like for me to dial that number for you?” the operator asked.

“Sure,” Adam said, then waited.

“Betty Lewis,” a woman said. She was chewing gum in that way that made constant bubbles that popped.

Adam asked if it was the vet clinic.

“Isn’t that who you called?” she snapped.

Adam looked at the receiver in disbelief. “I need to speak to Kelly,” he said.

“She’s busy. Call back later.”

“Wait!” Adam said. “This is an emergency. Tell her I have a sloth.”

“A what?” Click, pop, click, her gum went.

He gritted his teeth. “This is Adam Hatten. Get Kelly Exton on the phone now!”

“If that’s what you want,” she said tiredly, and he heard the receiver hit the desktop.

It was several minutes before Kelly came to the phone. “Adam! Is it Mom? I’ll be right there. Or is it Vera? I’ll—”

“No!” he said loudly. “No one is hurt. Robbie told your mom and Forey that you and Paul are engaged.”

The sound Kelly made was half a cry, half a whimper of fear.

“My little brother is on his way to you now and I think he’s going to make a serious play for you.”

“I might take him up on it,” Kelly muttered. “Pauly will tell one person that he dumped me. Then everyone will know. I’ll be the laughingstock of the town. Poor dumb Kelly and all those wasted years.” She was heading toward tears. “Mrs. Carl will fire me. She’ll—”